Skin cancer can be a debilitating disease. It can lead to widespread problems, and in some cases, death. The Skin Cancer Foundation explains that melanoma, one of the deadliest of skin cancers, contributes up to three percent of all childhood cancers. The key is preventative techniques and early detection to help eradicate the cancer or push it into remission. Here are a few ways that you can help your pre-teen or teen help reduce her risk of developing various forms of skin cancer.

Know Your Risk Factors

Some teenagers are more prone to skin cancers than others, and not just because they may have spent more time out in the sun. Here are some tell-tale signs that may put your pre-teen at risk for developing cancer now or years from now. This includes:

A family history of skin cancer

Previous removal of a suspicious or pre-cancerous skin lesion

History of sunburns early on in life

Skin that reddens easily

Freckled skin, moles, birthmarks or uneven skin tones

Very light skin color

Green or blue eye color

Red or blond hair

Taking these risks into consideration is something that you should share with your teen. From there, she can take the necessary steps throughout life to keep her skin protected from the sun.

UV Protection

Reducing your risk and your teen's risk of developing skin cancer starts with avoiding direct sunlight without adequate protection. Choose a waterproof sunscreen that will stay in place throughout the day while she's enjoying the outdoors. There are also several daily moisturizing lotions as well as makeup foundations that also contain SPF protection. Remember to tell your teen that anytime she walks outdoors, she's exposing her skin to some sort of UV radiation.

Dermatology Consultation

An initial consultation with a dermatologist is imperative, especially if your teen has had a lot of sun exposure since birth. A dermatologist will be able to examine the condition of your teenager's skin and look for skin or mole irregularities that may indicate a precancerous lesion. From there, your doctor will recommend what interval he would like to see her back in for a visit.

Recognizing Cancer

It's important to be able to recognize what is a common skin discoloration and what is something more serious, like cancer. There are three main types:

Basal cell carcinoma- a slow growing cancer that rarely spreads to other organs.

Squamous cell carcinoma-a slow growing cancer that can spread and should be treated right away.

Melanoma- a fast spreading type of cancer that can quickly spread to vital organs.

When looking for signs of any type of cancer. Remember the ABCD and E's.

Asymmetry- One side of the mole is not identical to the other.

Border- The edges of a mole are irregular or blurred.

Color- Different colors lie within the mole.

Diameter- The overall diameter is larger than the head of a pencil eraser.

Evolving- The mole evolves from a small shape to a larger size or color from a previous exam.

Taking all of these things into consideration is important when deciding when and if you should seek treatment.

Always erring on the side of caution is recommended when it comes to changes in your teenager's skin. Early detection is key to the best survival rates and outcome. Speak to your dermatologist today about questions regarding changes in your teen's skin.

About Me

When my youngest son was born, he was diagnosed with a seizure disorder. I had never seen seizures before, let alone in someone so tiny. I spent hours every day reading and researching the triggers and management techniques for seizures in the hopes of helping him to manage his symptoms. I was surprised at how little real-life information was out there. That's when I knew that I had to create this site. My goal with this blog is to help others understand what it's like to manage seizures in an infant and how it changes as they get older. I hope it helps you if you're facing the same struggles with your child or a loved one.